Hamster Gwawing Bars so much that has a BALD PATCH

[MUM23ASD]

Our syrian hamster loves gnawing cage bars (despite loads of wooden alternatives!) However she's gnawed so much that some of her fur has worn away above her nose, and she has a 'hard skin' scab .
Is there anything i can do other than put her in a cage without bars...I am worried she may then still refuse to chew wood- and then her teeth will overgrow...she is 4 months old.

Both of my hamsrers did this, it's perfectly normal and the scab will drop off soon and the fur will grow back. You will never stop them chewing at the bars as they are trying to find a way out and they love to do it even if they have lots of different wooden toys to gnaw on. Their little noses seem to 'harden' to having the fur rubbed off and so it will happen on and off all the time.

thanks! she seems a happy soul and is talked to all the time and taken out for cuddles constantly- some evenings i have to make sure she is put back so that she can have a rest from all the attention she gets!

I reckon she does just LOVE to gnaw!!!

I did read about 'deterents' you can buy (Bitter Lime) for pets.... but wondererd if anyone else has experience of coating bars with this stuff?

I don't want to make her ill or sad...

My hammie looks with disdain at shop bought chews but loves a Brazil nut in its shell...

Blondeshavemorefun is the hammie expert though

why thank you bella

perfectlty normal behaviour for hammies

our has a bald spot every few months from gnawing - we give a him a pumise like stone from petshops but they LOVE a hard nut to chew as bella said - brazil or those round white /yellow hard ones

we have never got a wooden toy to chew, though did buy small hamster beds (yes i know, my hammies are so pampered) and they loved eating them,so the matress dissapeered and they then slept in a square box - pmsl

Hazelnut, sweetie

not hazlenut - no a big white nut shell not a small brown nut shell

bugger , cant think of the name

WALNUT

had to google it

hammies love walnuts!!

Dog biscuits are also good for their teeth I found

macdog - yes, mine like dog biccies too.

But hammie porridge is the real fave - Blondie will explain

the shell is white/yellow, though maybe could call it brown

baby porridge is the best - now bellas hammy loves her even more as a mummy

though obv wont help stop them from wanting to gnaw hard stuff

mine generally gnaws when being ignored and then dh and i feel awful

we were away last saturday night at a wedding, so both hammies didnt get played with and baby one had a rubbed nose

the guilt i we felt

so made him a special porridge mix with grated carrot in it as a sorry

Does colour blindness run in your family then, Blondie?

def a yellow colour rather than brown

and at growing own oats - we buy farleys ready grown

Blondie!!!!

here

pmsl bella - had to go and pick up dh from pub

beige/oatmeal - thnak you mcdreamy/pesto and podrick

i call this yellow/beige etc def not brown

PMSL!!!!

I have just come back to check this thread!!!

She has loads of tubes which she seems to like running on top of rather than in!!!

She has a wheel and a flying saucer wheel.

she has a wooden climbing frame .

she's in a huge tank with cage area on top- so has loads of room..... (its 30" x 18" and 24" tall!)

at the moment she has found the best use for the tubes is to lie on them on her back and gnaw bars upside down...holding on with front paws and wiggling her back legs and tail !!!

I wish i could let her just walk around the house!!! She is so curious!

every time we go near the cage she is at the door waiting to be taken out!

trouble is...i am suposed to be washing up the tea plates.... but she is so distracting!!!

Yes, well, all very well, OP but what colour are walnut shells?

light brown!!!

I've never seen a 'white/cream/yellow' walnut shell!!!

(incidently....our hammie IS a kind of creamy ginger....but walnuts are deffo brown!

light brown can also be called tan/beige or possibly dark yellow

Op - your hammy sounds very well loved pampered cared for

BLONDES... after such compliments on my hamster care...I'll allow you to call walnuts ANY colour you wish!!!!

why thank you

now brazil nuts are def dark brown - or does anyone want to differ with this blonde?

yes...brazil nurs are dark brown.... and hazel nuts are hazel!!

what about pistachios?

my boys love these, and tech they are the same colour as walnuts!!!

The Dc's first hamster was just the same - it's why she was named Norah...

thought pistachios were green?

LOL at Norah

Believe it or not we chose to call this one Nibbles.... only ourselves to blame then!

Seriously....i take it the general opinion is to not worry about excessive gnawing?